Last Chance

Chapter One

I’ve always wondered why everyone looked back into the past. I could never understand how people could just all of a sudden be talking, then suddenly have one of those weird flash backs. The other person looks at that person funny, and says. “Are you ok?” Then you all of a sudden you snap back into reality, realize how much of an idiot you are and say “Yea, had a flash back”. I mean why look into the past? What’s so important that we all look back and think, Wow that happened long ago, or Wow, I wish I could go back. Why? So you can go back and wish you could be in the future out of that hellhole you call a home? Not me. So much has happened in my life. I have no time to look back. I have no need to look back. I don’t want to look back. And yet, I always wonder what would happen if I’ve never met some of the people I know and love today. What if I didn’t love my amazing boyfriend? What if my sister wouldn’t have died? What if I didn’t love horses? What kind of person would I be today? Well, in the end, everything works out the way it’s supposed to be. For better or worse. My motto is, live life to its fullest, don’t ever look back. Good saying huh? I’ve listened to it my whole entire life. Of course I’ve looked back into the past before. I’ve always thought. How could this have ended differently? How could I have prevented it? Well the cold hard truth is, you can’t. The truth hurts I know, believe me. Anyways, my story is sad. Yet happy through out all the things that have happened. I never want to change it, never would I change it. So, how does this story begin you ask? Well….

The morning was crisp and beautiful, the sky shinned throughout the small town of Okalahoma. A few wistful lonely clouds drifted through the sky, covering the sun at any chance it got. I yawned lustfully, knowing the long hard hours I would be putting in for today. The barn was dark, with a hint of light shinning through the windows here and there. It was late that morning, since I had accidentally slept in longer than I was supposed to. Horses nickered back and forth, obviously hungry from their long wait. “Oh I know! You guys are starved, bad me didn’t wake up on time to feed you” I said teasingly. In response I got cries and whinnies. After feeding the horses, I sat by the tack room yawning once more. “Man I’m tired!” I complained.

Tilting my head back, I began to think. Suddenly I remembered somebody. Mike….Where was Mike? I looked around; I even listened a little harder. Nothing. “Mike!” I yelled. No answer. I sighed. He’s late again, I thought. I could feel the anger rising. He was supposed to help me today. I growled. “Great” I mumbled. I looked down the aisle. “Ahhh…better get the horses out” I said under my breathe, cursing on the way. I walked towards Busters stall. A gentle nicker rumbled from his throat. I smiled, the anger soon subsided. “Hey man” I said rubbing the steeds pink nose. “Ready to go outside?” I said gently slipping the halter over the geldings massive head. He sighed. I took this as a yes. After turning out Buster, I went to Ginger’s stall. The golden fleeced mare pinned her ears, giving me the ugliest look a horse could ever give you.

This on the other hand, made me smile. She snorted aggressively, obviously unhappy of my presence. I made an ugly face back. She curled her neck, and lounged at the stall door. I laughed. “You’re not very nice are you?” I said opening the stall door. Her golden ears pricked forwards, and she happily approached. “You’re a weirdo” I said slipping a halter over her head.

After turning all 38 horses out, I looked down the aisle and took a deep breathe. I groaned. “Happy day for me” I said grabbing a pitch fork hanging from the wall.

After all 38 stalls were finished; I collapsed in the tack room. Only to be startled by someone. It was Mike. “Mike!” I said feeling the sudden anger rise within me. “You were supposed to help me clean stalls today! You know Riley had to work!’ I said jabbing a finger into his chest. He glared. “Sorry, I had other things to do”

“A call would have been nice!”

“I couldn’t call” he said walking out of the tack room. I stormed after him. “And why not?”

“I was busy”

“Busy doing what?” I demanded. He wasn’t going to get away with this again. Not this time.

“I was busy ok! Would you get off my back?!” He hissed.

I glared and walked the other way. “Jerk!” I yelled behind me. He didn’t bother to respond. I stopped, took a deep breath and looked at my watch. It was 2:00. Riley should be here anytime. I sat by the doorway, leaning my head against the hard cold wall. My thoughts surrounded my mind. Mike flooded around in my mind. I cursed to myself. No. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my day. Besides I have bigger things to worry about. Like, the Okalahoma Regional’s. Riley and I would be competing in the national three day event. We were on the National Junior Oklahoma Riders club, which was big time in showing. I yawned, my mind suddenly cleared.

My eyes grew heavy as I started to relax and fall into slumber. But, I was awakened by footsteps. I looked up to see a happy blonde face. I smiled. “Hey”

“Hey! What took you so long to call?”

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“I was the only one here today” I said while walking over to Damian’s stall. Riley raised a brow, following me over until she reached Echo’s stall. “I thought Mike was supposed to help you today”

“He was” I grumbled.

Riley smiled and gave me a nudge.

“Did he blow you off again?”

I looked at her. Slowly I nodded. “Yes…”

She chuckled. It was silent for only a moment. “So, when are you going to break up with him?” she said while slipping Echo’s pink break away halter on. I shrugged. “Who said anything about dumping? I’m giving him a chance to make it up first” I said leading Damian to the outdoor wash rack. Riley followed with Echo. “How many more chances does he get? You know he’s going with Rachel behind your back!” I could feel the anger within her last sentence. “I dunno Riley, can we just drop it?” I said turning on the hose. Riley sighed. “Fine, but don’t come crying to me when he dumps you” I laughed. “And that wont happen” I said reassuringly. At least I hoped not. I had no idea what drew me to Mike. There was just something about him that made me want more from him. I began hosing Damian off, starting with his legs; he squirmed but grew quiet after a few moments. After hosing him off, I started scrubbing carefully through his jet black coat. Scratching him just about the withers, his neck arched and his upper lip curled. “Feels good don’t it?” I said smiling as Damian curved his head to the side, looking as cute as could be.

After about an hour’s work of washing, and grooming we put the horses show sheets on and put them in their stalls. We soon carried on with our duties in the tack room…cleaning tack. Riley fumbled with her Dressage saddle. “Weakling” I said as I showed off my strength by tossing my Western saddle up onto the highest racks. Riley stuck her tongue. “Shut up”

I laughed and continued soaping my Jump saddle. “We have a long three days ahead of us” I said while dipping my cloth into the saddle soap. Riley sighed and nodded. “Sure do”

“We’re trailering up there tomorrow right?” Riley asked.

“Yep, John is helping us.” John was our trainer.

“Oh great, he’ll flip out if we do anything wrong…make sure you wrap your horses legs tight, make sure his halter is on good, make sure you give him plenty of hay”

We both laughed.

Our fun soon ended as I watched Rachel step into the tack room. Riley and mine’s smiles disappeared quickly and we looked down at our saddles. Rachel rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the welcoming committee” she said grabbing her helmet from her locker. “You’re riding?” I asked. “Well duh, our show is tomorrow” she said buckling the helmet strap. I shrugged. “I thought we were riding tomorrow as a group”

“Yea to find out what we’re competing in” Riley added.

Rachel rolled her eyes. “You guys are such worry warts, I’m riding tomorrow…gosh don’t get your undies in a bunch” she said storming out. “And besides, we all know who’s doing show jumping…Me” she added before she walked out the door.

Just then Mike walked up. She smiled, and he smiled. “Hey” he said sweetly. “Hey” she said and walked out. I cringed holding back the words I wanted to say. Mike watched as Rachel left. I coughed. He looked at me. “What?” I glared. “You’re an ass” I said and threw one of my boots at him.

“Hey!”

“Why don’t you go and leave, go find Rachel and be all googlie eyed with her” I said storming out of the tack room.

“What’s your problem?” Mike demanded, giving me an ugly look. My eyes widened, thinking of all the things that were wrong with him. Better yet myself.

“You’re my problem Mike” I said walking off. He followed. “What’s that supposed to mean?!” He said reaching out and grabbing my arm. I pulled away. “You know what Mike, I know about you and Rachel, I know what you’ve been doing behind my back, and you know what its over!” I said storming off back to the barn.

Mike grabbed my arm once again. I was unable to pull away. “Now wait a second, you can’t do that!” he hissed making his grip tighter. “Mike let go of me!” I screamed. I was so angry. He just tightened his grip and pinned me against the stable wall. “No, you’re not breaking up with me. I’m not finished with you yet” I tried to push him off, but he just slammed me back. Thank god Riley came. “Hey you better let go of my sister” She demanded, her arms behind her back. “Riley stay out of this!” Mike screeched. I glared and kicked out, hitting him straight in the nuts. Mike doubled over in pain. I ran off towards Riley. Riley signaled me over, and pulled the hose from behind her back. She started spraying him with full blast! Mike yelled. “Riley shut that off!”

She kept spraying. His cloths grew darker as the water drenched him. I laughed. I felt so alive at that moment. After a few moments Riley stopped. I took the hose from her. “If you ever touch me, even come NEAR me again I’ll kick your ass!” I said spraying him once more on full blast. He threw his hands up covering his face. We quickly sprinted to the barn, leaving Mike to dry in the parking lot. I laughed and threw my hand up as a high five. Riley thrashed her hand into mine. “YES! That was awesome!” I said sliding my back against the door. Riley followed. “I know, I’m so brilliant.”

I chuckled. “God, for an 18 year old you’re the best” I said reaching out and hugging her. “Hey, that’s what sisters are for, even if their sisters are older than them by two years” I raised a brow. “You need to get a life Riley”

“No Andy how about you”

“You first!”

I said sprinting off to the tack room. Hey, who said 18 and 20 year olds can’t act like kids?